Racism – the response of community work

Abstract

A fundamental need of the black community in Britain is to be freed from the disabling effects of white racism both in the individual and institutional forms. The title ‘community work and racism’ has been chosen to identify, at the outset, the primary issue for the black community. Other possible titles it was felt would be misleading: ‘Community work and race-relations’ suggests a situation at neighbourhood levels in which different racial groups start from an equal position of power and are relating to each other as equals. This is not the case in Britain – the effects of racism and discrimination ensure that. ‘Race-relations’ in the minds of most people, community workers not excepted, conjures up the picture of attempts at ‘racial harmony’. There have indeed been isolated incidents of community workers and projects doing their bit for ‘racial harmony’ by organising ‘multi-racial festivals’ and ‘multi-racial playschemes’, in the belief that if different races mix together and ‘understand the other’ (i.e. black people) racial tension will be minimised and it will be a clear demonstration to the National Front that black and white can live in harmony. If community workers are striving for ‘racial harmony’, they must recognize that a prerequisite for ‘racial harmony’ is ‘racial justice’ and positive action against racism to ensure equal opportunity for all. There is no evidence to suggest that multi-racial ‘get-togethers’ will: influence the chances of young black unemployed of facing less discrimination in their efforts to find a job reduce racism and discrimination in housing departments, schools and colleges, social services or the police.